‘Live with Kelly and Mark’ finally moving into new studio after filming show ‘near the cafeteria’ at ABC
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ cafeteria days are finally coming to an end.
The couple will officially premiere “Live with Kelly and Mark” on their brand new Hudson Square set on Monday, after braving the compromising conditions of their makeshift studio all week.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos returned to “Live” in a makeshift studio this week. Disney via Getty Images
Page Six exclusively reported that the host couple would broadcast their show from a temporary space near the ABC cafeteria as they “put the final touches on” their permanent set.
They returned to the show on April 7, and let’s just say, it wasn’t the smoothest week in the interim space.
Jay Shetty and Elisabeth Moss were the first guests on the temp set. Disney via Getty Images
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Viewers of Monday’s episode, for example, were dishing more about the show’s sound system than the guest, “The Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss.
One commenter wrote on X, “They better do something about the echo because I can’t listen to this.”
Several more on social media commented on the stage’s “annoying echo,” and one described the temp set as seeming to “have a cold industrialized atmosphere.”
“Even the audience seems uncomfortable,” they wrote.
The show had to make tweaks to the audio, according to a source. Disney via Getty Images
Ripa at times seemed uncomfortable, too.
She noted the sound snafu during one segment, acknowledging, “We are clearly beta testing the sound here.”
The married hosts even had to adjust to the icy temperature. “We are just getting hit with a cold arctic blast of air, coming from maybe the outside, I don’t know, but it just rained on us. I am now, I’m frozen,” Ripa said.
Walton Goggins was a guest after “The White Lotus” finale. Disney via Getty Images
The “Live” vet playfully acknowledged the awkward set location when welcoming “The White Lotus” star Walton Goggins as their guest earlier in the week: Ripa warned the studio audience that if didn’t want to hear any spoilers from Sunday’s season finale, “go into the cafeteria!”
Ripa and Consuelos bid farewell to their show’s former studio on Apr. 1. Disney via Getty Images
But a production source described filming from “the Great Room” this week as “fantastic,” and “a nice way to transition into the building.”
“Everyone is really happy. The space is big, so we had to make some tweaks to the audio at the beginning of the week — but overall these past few days have been a huge hit,” they said.
“Live with Kelly and Mark” will begin filming from their permanent studio on Monday. Disney via Getty Images
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams will be their first guest in their permanent spot.
David Oyelowo, Josh Duhamel and Lake Bell are expected to swing by later in the week.
“[We’re] excited for the studio on Monday!” the production source said.
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